Is Winnipeg Soulless?

As usual Winnipeg is bogged down in controversy. Why do we need BRT? Why do we need a new stadium? Why do we need a Human Rights Museum? Why do we need a better zoo? Why do we need Bears on Broadway. Why do we need more high rise apartments in my neighborhood? Why do we need Ikea?

I don't want THAT in my back yard. Who needs art? Why should we spend money subsidizing education? Why should the city spend money on THAT development?

When did Winnipeg become such a negative place? We might well be the most unimaginative metropolis in Canada. We seem to be satisfied with the status quo.

Perhaps that is what we prefer: never-ending bitching about how bad off we are. But any time something new and creative comes our way we say absolutely not. It's ugly. It costs too much.

Previous generations of politicians at every level have spent our tax dollars like drunken sailors leaving us with a massive infrastructure deficit. Generations of piss poor civic planning in Winnipeg have left us with a real dog's breakfast of poorly maintained streets and traffic lights and sprawl. Add in a government that believes more bureaucracy is the only way to go.

Now we have to fix it. Unfortunately that fix is not inexpensive. We also have to keep living. Too many think that if we just stop spending everything will be better. Maybe, but not so much when we talk about cities. Winnipeg will not grow and prosper if we cannot provide balance. To me balance includes:
* generous social programs and training, taking care of the less privileged, helping them to become contributing citizens
* competent planning and quality infrastructure management and execution
* intelligent transit development
* then there are the intangibles that make a city warm and welcoming: trees and art and sport and culture and learning and food...

Nothing will get done properly in a vacuum. We need a real vision followed by a plan and excellent execution of the plan. That is not available in Winnipeg today. But if it were we don't seem to have the will to do it.

I have a dream of what I'd like Winnipeg to become. I have a passion for Winnipeg that allows me precious little patience for all the negativity, the naysayers and nimbiers that seem to dominate this fair burgh. We second and third guess absolutely everything.

Some will argue reality gets in the way of one's dream. True. But we do treat ourselves from time to time. Maybe splurge on a new jacket. Buy that car we've always wanted. Renovate the kitchen. Small things that are maybe a little more than we can afford but they form part of our fabric of life.

That is what museums and football stadiums and parks and art mean to a city. They also mean different things to different people. I believe we have to provide a myriad of treats for everyone to become a city that is more than mere bricks and mortar.

Or we can stop building anything that might not be necessary for the next 20-40 years while we balance the books and make our roads the envy of the country. But we might well end up a city without soul.

I don't want to live in that city.

The Coalition of The Devil — God Help Us

I just this moment heard an ad (from a coalition support group/union) supporting the coalition. The thing I find astounding is these groups ranting that the government has not got the job done. This government was just elected in October. Additionally they've not yet announced their 2009 budget (plan) and they are being labeled as "not getting the job done".

This ad in particular suggested the government has done nothing to protect jobs. Short of throwing tens of billions of dollars at "some industries" and "infrastructure" (which was done I understand) what more can be done?

• The Bank of Canada is independent no?
• The price of oil is beyond his circle of influence no?
• The housing market has been super-heated for so long now is there really any hope of extending that?
• Is there any guarantee that the Big Three will be any more solvent were Canada to throw billions there?
• Do Canadian banks need rescuing?

So what can be done? I say cooler and saner heads need to prevail to allow Canada to ride out the storm. A coalition propped up by the Bloc simply cannot "save" Canada.

Manitoba: Land of the Entitled

I was recently involved in a discussion on the woes of Manitobans. It started with a comment I heard yesterday on the Mercer Report of all places. In one of Mercer's commentaries he discussed the current state of all provinces and territories in Canada wherein he concluded Manitoba was a "never has and never will be province". Manitoba!

It continued this morning when I read Manitoba would never eliminate business taxes because "this province could never afford the poor". The notion Manitoba must afford the poor is mind-boggling.

I believe this impression we and others have of our province is hugely counter-productive to turning it around. I believe it begins and ends in this society of the entitled we've created in Manitoba.

We do have a society of entitlement here in Manitoba. The notion Manitoba is a province of the poor is absurd. It is the province of the chronically lazy. Our unemployment rate has been amoungst the lowest in Canada for a few years now. Business is SCREAMING for tradesmen yet we have Indian Chiefs crying unemployment amoung their people is epidemic.

We have some of the lowest secondary education fees in North America. Ton's of jobs. A relatively stable economy. Why aren't people working?

People argue eliminating our business taxes can't be done because we have too many poor. Stop funding these entitled people. The lowered business taxes (plus a business friendly government) will lead to more business leading to more jobs.

Jesus H. Christ we've got 10,000 plus immigrants entering Manitoba annually and they all seem to be productive taxpaying citizens immediately.

Our own people must get off their asses and get to work. And now.

Manitoba Economy

According to the statistics, Manitoba is leading the country in the following economic performance indicators:

• Manufacturing capital investment is up 29.8 per cent, compared to 5.3 per cent nationally. In the last 12 months, the number of manufacturing jobs increased by 1.7 per cent compared to a loss of 5.4 per cent nationally.
• Construction work increased 13.7 per cent, compared to 4.7 per cent nationally.
• Total exports increased 9.9 per cent, compared to 2.5 per cent nationally.
• Capital investment is forecast to be up 11.3 per cent, compared to 4.6 per cent nationally.

Source: Province of Manitoba

Discuss this further on the Winnipeg Sandbox.

Building a Sandbox

About a year ago I discovered on line forums. More to the point I discovered on line forums about Winnipeg. I quickly became addicted. And I spent far too much time pounding the keyboards while participating in many varied discussions about the old home town.

When playing in those forums you "meet" many wildly different people that share in your passion for the topic at hand. Some will agree with you. Others not so much. Some will debate passionately but politely. Others not so much.

It is the not so much peeps that strike a raw nerve in my tolerating coping centre. It is those people that will more likely than not receive an admonition from this writer. More times than naught a polite admonition. Other times less so. Usually the point is made and I move on. Other times it requires more vigorous debate. Good times. Some time.

A couple of months ago the owner and moderators of a particular favourite forum went overboard (in my view) with their moderation of that site. I felt they were going too far and told them so. Long story short they temporarily suspended a particularly popular member of the forum over a rather innocuous comment. I thought the move to be heavy handed and "suspended" myself for the same period. As did other members. These members were the top posters on that site (by volume at least).

When everyone returned from suspension and self-exile the shite hit the fan resulting in many members being banned from the site. And other members banning themselves. I was one of the self-banned members.

That was the genesis of the sandbox. Jonsing over the absence of my most pernicious time consumer I created a new forum for the banned and self-exiled members. Not having any experience in building or running such places I started by creating a Goggle Groups forum. It served its purpose but was slow and clumsy and unattractive. Which led to discussions within the small but growing membership of finding something else.

One member found a free forums site that provided just the vehicle we were looking for. I tried to create our new site with that tool but was quickly frustrated. That led me to a search for similar sites. That is when I found Forumotion.com. And the rest is history.

In very short order "The Winnipeg Sandbox" was created. Let me remind you I had zero experience in such matters. But the tool was easy to use, somewhat intuitive and attractive. Other than the constant niggling a perfectionist brings to the table the sandbox has performed exceedingly well. Our membership after a month has reached almost 50 members, and growing. We are averaging 200 posts a day and have generally outperformed our competition.

And there is little to fear about the moderators and administraters becoming more than the members and their posts. We are mostly self-moderated. The members will tell those that choose to behave innapropriately how they feel. That alone is usually enough. Oh, only after creating the Winnipeg Sandbox was I banned from the other place. The reason? Advertising another forum.

If you are a fan of Winnipeg and wish to become involved in the many varied discussions about Winnipeg why not drop by. We'd love to have ya and you might well find it worthwhile. Tell them a grumpy old man sent ya.

The Winnipeg Sandbox. One month old. Drop by and wish us a happy birthday.

Building Winnipeg to meet the lowest common denominator

Winnipeg has been slow to evolve. Slow and steady is the mantra of citizens and politicians alike. It seems that should someone come up with an innovative, never before done in Winnipeg idea, many Winnipeggers nix it even before the ink is dry on the proposal.

I wonder what it is with us Winnipeggers that drives us to shun progress with such vigour rarely displayed elsewhere.

Several good examples of late include the Human Rights Museum, the South Point Douglas/Stadium proposal, the Polo Park Stadium proposal, the Canad Inns Water Park proposal, the Assiniboine Avenue condo project...

The whining about not having these things is incredible. And yet the volume against those innovative proposals is deafening. For so many reasons. Especially the use of taxpayer money. What astounds me is the number of people who nix these proposals because they are not fully accessible by everybody.

While I believe it would be wonderful for everyone to enjoy equal access to everything, that is not the way the world works. What we get when we build to accommodate the lowest possible denominator is what we have now with many public amenities. Swimming pools and community centres are a couple prime examples. Vanilla.

Many people want other flavours. The trouble is with public amenities we cannot (or will not) afford chocolate or strawberry flavours. And the vanilla flavours are often under-used.

The proposal to redevelop Winnipeg's South Point Douglas area is a prime example. This is a part of Winnipeg that has been allowed to deteriorate to the extreme. Here is a tract of land on the banks of the Red River that is almost completely undeveloped, with little more than one or two dozen ramshackle, run down houses and some modest commercial properties.

Along comes the Aspers with a pretty neat proposal to fully develop that area. Beautiful new water park, retail development on the banks of the River and a $150 million football stadium. Nope, we don't want that here. Save the houses. Some even say we need to save the unaffected neighboring houses: can't have that, the taxes will go up.

Unfriggenbelievable.

The negative-naysayers of this city better give their collective heads a shake. And soon. What these whiners seem to ignore is the fact we don't have a whole lot of people knocking down our doors with fistfuls of loot looking to develop this burgh.

And don't whine 20 years from now at the snail-like pace of development in Winnipeg. We've had a chance to get what others have and we cavalierly waved them away.

Oh, and don't bother rebutting this post here. I see too much of that elsewhere.

Addictive Web Space and The Evil Thread Monster

Let's just start off this little ditty by acknowledging I am not even close to perfect. I can be condescending and close-minded. Long winded and opinionated. Biased and temperamental. But mostly I believe I am fair-minded, respectful and tolerant.

I participate in and contribute to a web space that is mostly about Winnipeg by Winnipeggers. There are the typical trolls, funny enough most actually are ex-Winnipeggers who maybe cannot let go but take every opportunity to tell us how great their new found home is and how terrible our home is. But mostly there are an awful lot of typical Winnipeggers that care very deeply about Winnipeg in all its beauty and all its warts.

There are a vast range of philosophies, left, right and centre. Some hard-liners. A few bleeding hearts. Surprisingly enough I don't always agree with everyone all the time. Heh heh. But often enough where I frequently become engaged in animated dialog. It really is an addictive pastime.

Almost all found-ins at this site contribute meaningfully. Some have an incredible knowledge of the history of Winnipeg. There are a few terrific photographers who contribute some amazing pictures showing the best and the worst of Winnipeg. One photographer has such a great portfolio I plan on purchasing some prints for display in my home. Another poster regularly features the history of Winnipeg through his vast archive of historical images and bite-sized historic dates.

A few have special social tendencies that have led to a group of like-minded peeps adopting a north-end Winnipeg community centre.

There are a few eccentric souls and comedians that frequent that space. One might argue I fall into both categories. It makes for a lively space at times.

And then there are the evil thread monsters. One that believes it is his divine right to ensure all claims are supported by facts (reference please). And to ensure the threads stay right on tack - not straying off topic. One who probably tells us too much about his personal situation. One who's agenda is never far from the surface no matter the topic. But mostly the immature, make it personal type that hates challenges to his threads and takes shots instead of making intelligent debate.

It takes all types to make this space what it has become. Mostly though the good far outweighs the bad at this space. So much so that I've mostly ignored my own blog space. What's the difference today you ask, that I've found time to write this new post?

My favourite site is down of course.

Edit. It turns out that the web site was not down. Rather it has blocked my IP address. And at least one other regular there has been blocked. The anonymous poster in my comments area might be a third blocked IP. Note that we have not been banned from the site.

There is one common factor: at least two of us have had unpleasant conflicts with another regular there. That regular owns the web company that hosts that site. Hmmmm.

Top 10 NDP election promises

Published in Winnipeg Sun, Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Top 10 NDP election promises

1. Add 700 more nurses and 100 new doctors over four years.
2. Build a mental health emergency room.
3. Establish a women's health centre at the Health Sciences Centre and open a women's and children's health clinic in South Winnipeg.
4. Hire 100 new cops and expand the team of Crown prosecutors.
5. Add 4,000 new apprenticeship training spots at colleges and universities around Manitoba.
6. Give the east side of Lake Winnipeg permanent protection through legislation.
7. Commit $40 million to begin negotiations for an east-west power grid.
8. Create 2,500 newly-funded child-care spaces, set up a $1-million training and recruitment fund and increase workers' salaries.
9. Eliminate the small business tax by 2010 and increase the education property tax credit to $700 by 2009.
10. Spend $60 million on community recreation centres.

It's been several months since this was published. How has our government progressed on their list?

MHRC Report Not Litter Box Worthy?

I had a discussion recently questioning how our society has (de)evolved to this point. That is such a wide-ranging discussion it boggles the mind.

But where a recent Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s report goes is one such answer to the question. Tom Brodbeck accurately ascribes this report as being not litter-box-worthy...

We have taken POLITICAL CORRECTNESS so far beyond the absurd we've almost completely paralyzed ourselves.

It's cartoonish.

We have created a double-standard that is actually seen as acceptable.

As an example, apply for a government job. You are given preferential treatment if you are a native, a woman or a person with a disability. A white able-bodied male is discriminated here. And that is okay.

Reverse discrimination has swung the pendulum too far. A perfect example is a government report that cries wolf with wholly unsubstantiated anecdotes.

Our justice system (???) coddles natives because they had it tough growing up. It nurtures the 14 year old car thieves because they are afflicted with FASD. It releases goons on time served after a vicious beating death yet keeps Robert Latimer in jail.

Then I heard of some bozo MLA (Drew Caldwell - Brandon) we've elected to serve us taunting and heckling another MLA.

And I got my answer.

This is the type of people we have leading us beyond every moronic and idiotic characterization I've described here.

God help us all if we don't change things.

And soon.

The Arrogance of John Hoevin

The Devils Lake Diversion

Over the years Canada and the US have been great friends and neighbors. This is not likely to change much despite the actions of a few misguided individuals.

One such individual is the Governor of North Dakota John Hoeven and his minions. It seems Hoeven cares little about Manitoba, and even less for the ecosystems of rivers and lakes in North Dakota and Manitoba.

A little background. Devils Lake, a lake in northern North Dakota is causing significant problems to that state, including flooding and subsequent land lost. To combat the problem North Dakota built a diversion that lowers the water level of Devils Lake.

The problem arises due to this diversion of water, c/w its foreign species, ultimately ending up in Lake Winnipeg. The risk is those species cause havoc to one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

It is said a simple $10 million filter would minimize the problem. Therein lies the rub.

The problem is exacerbated by the sheer arrogance displayed by Hoeven in his response to complaints by Canadian and Manitoban officials. You see, he refuses to build the filter despite an agreement between Washington and Ottawa.

"We don't object to the (advanced) filter with two provisions -- that North Dakota doesn't incur an expense and, second, that it doesn't impede the operation of the outlet," said Don Canton, spokesman for Hoeven.

The incredible stupidity of this position is awe-inspiring.

I'm sure there will be tit-for-tat rebuttals. Manitoba's Premier, Gary Doer, is already threatening such action. That likely won't help much, but we need to get Hoeven's attention.

For Hoeven's benefit I looked up some statistics on Canada - North Dakota trade. I believe these numbers will impress him. Stats circa 2004.

North Dakota Tourism

Visits by Canadians	340,300
$ spent	$48 million
Visits to Canada	72,800
$ spent	$25 million

North Dakota Trade

Exports to Canada	$462 million
Imports from Canada	$1.3 billion
Bilateral trade	$1.7 billion
Largest export market	Canada

North Dakota trades more with Canada than over 25 of its next top export markets combined.

So, Mr. Hoeven. Do you even care?

With files from the Winnipeg Free Press and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Shades of Gray

There is serious and ongoing debate about too few Winnipeg Police feet on the street. They don't have time to respond to take a vehicle theft report. There are too few to man community police centres. Or chase down parole violators.

But they can raid private clubs and lay charges against illegal gaming? I wonder who establishes priorities for the Winnipeg Police?

Don't get me wrong. The Winnipeg Police do a great job. I'm not a police basher. I'm also not a gambler. Not even casually. Thus establishing myself as fully unbiased in this matter...

The issue I have stems from how the police prioritize matters. The private gaming industry is full of ostensibly sane adults participating in something they enjoy, that hurts no one. And before our social conscience goes off on me no less an authority then the government runs and licenses "legal" gaming parlours all over Manitoba. So it MUST be harmless, right?

I read in the Winnipeg Free Press that SIXTY police officers participated in the raids. Wow, imagine how many car thefts might have been investigated. Or how many hours could the community police stations been manned?

I say to all Manitoba justice officials, to the Winnipeg Police, and our Provincial and Municipal politicians, 'tis time to seriously reevaluate your priorities. To assign such significant resources to prosecute an area of law bathed in shades of gray is asinine.

When choosing between going after scofflaws participating in activities that GOVERNMENT agencies sanction versus chasing car thief's and parole violators, I say go after the real criminals every time.

For gawd's sake people, give your heads a shake...

Save us from Anita Neville

I don't imagine crime in Winnipeg is, on average, any worse than other major Canadian cities. Sure we have too many car thefts and too many murders. But, that is not the point.

There has been an incredible amount of attention to this issue in Winnipeg, and we've been saying loudly and clearly, we’ve had enough.

What we want, the average taxpayer, is our criminal justice system to dole out harsher penalties. One thing is certain: with the criminals behind bars, they cannot steal cars, rob gas bars or murder anyone. And maybe, stiffer sentences might act as deterrence.

Okay, okay. This post is not about the social infrastructure that some say provides the fertile feeding grounds for our criminals. I'll save that little nugget for another post.

This post is actually about our elected officials, Members of Parliament. It’s about accountability and partisan politics. It’s about the moronic, infantile political gamesmanship these people foist upon us.

The federal Conservatives based part of their election campaign partly upon law and order reform. They pledged to create a system that made penalties for crime more severe, and to create a system that viewed honest citizens and victims as the most important elements.

You see, we citizens and victims want our rights viewed as the primary consideration. Not as an afterthought.

In 2006 the feds attempted to pass this toughened bill through parliament. Trouble is the government is a minority government that requires opposition members to help pass the legislation. It became so watered down by federal liberals and the NDP it did not resemble the original legislation draft.

The federal Conservatives tried again recently.

Therein lies the rub. Manitoba's three Liberal MPs, Ray Simard (St. Boniface), Tina Keeper (Churchill) and Anita Neville (Winnipeg South Centre) voted against it. Again.

Neville said the bill was poor legislation because it stripped the judiciary of its sentencing powers and refused to support it. "It flew against the advice of many people in the justice system," said Neville, adding sentencing is often best left to judges after they've heard all the evidence in a case and not legislators.

"You have to leave the discretion to the judiciary."

She said her main concern with the bill was an escalating clause that would send criminals to prison for longer sentences with subsequent offences.

This Liberal MP continues to perplex and amaze me. That Neville is so out of touch with her constituency is staggeringly unbelievable.

You see, the entire point is to change the laws increasing jail sentences BECASE the justice system and the judges argue their hands are tied. Even if they want to hand out longer sentences they can not.

Now Neville says it’s up to the judiciary to determine what an appropriate sentence is.

What complete and utter horse@#$%. No, it is not. It is up to you and me. We need to tell our elected officials we DEMAND tougher penalties. We demand the justice system and the judiciary then respond accordingly by issuing sentences more apropos to the crime.

Neville has not considered what Winnipeggers and Manitobans want. She votes along party lines, even to the detriment of her constituents. When is enough enough?

Is this someone you want representing you? You can tell her to get her act together. Click here. Don’t expect a reply though. She has never responded to my letters. And I’m a constituent.

Saving Upper Fort Garry

Many years ago, almost 20, some very imaginative people had a vision that was both visionary and creative and contentious. They dreamed of a new meeting place at the Forks, at the historic junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in Downtown Winnipeg.

Very few would have envisioned what it has become and what it means to Winnipeg today. The Forks is Winnipeg's number one tourist attraction as well as an extremely busy and popular meeting place for Winnipeggers and Manitobans alike.

This wonderful local continues to offer new and exciting elements. Last year North America's premier urban skateboarding park opened. In 2002 another contentious but ultima tely hugely successful, The Esplanade Riel Bridge opened, joining historic St. Boniface to the Forks. 8 years ago the beautiful Can West baseball park opened and proceeded to become the home of North America's most successful independent baseball team.

Expected in 2010 is the shining jewel of the Forks, The Canadian Museum of Human Rights. This incredible facility will become the most important museum of its kind, the worlds' foremost human rights museum.

None of this would have happened if not for the incredible foresight of a few visionaries in 1988. That is why it is so important to reconsider the decision to divide the historic Upper Fort Garry Gate into a dual residential, commercial/historic site project.

Rather than give in to the short-sighted monetary aspects consider the historic nature of the site and how easily and simply it could become part of The Forks renaissance. This is a natural extension to the Forks. We must not lose this opportunity.

Think you can make a difference? Contact your local city councilor, or Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg.

An Open Letter to Hugh McFayden

So what you say? This letter was written and eMAILed on January 31, 2007. It has been edited.

Dear Hugh,

I returned to Winnipeg in March last year after many years living and working in Toronto. I have become very alarmed at the current NDP government’s inability to grasp what this province needs to grow and succeed. I am frightened that they will continue their ways should they win the next election.

I’d like to share with you my view on the state of Manitoba. A fiercely proud Winnipegger, Manitoban and Canadian, I believe strongly in this province and particularly in this city. I’ve watched sadly as we play second fiddle to almost every province in Canada. We must do more to grow this province. Here then are my thoughts.

Manitoba’s Priorities
In 2007 forward we as Manitobans must identify priorities and establish public policy. What priorities are most relevant today and tomorrow? What are the issues affecting most Manitobans?

There are so many significant and important issues that must be focused on. Let’s concentrate on the most urgent priorities. Such as crime. Education. Health. Infrastructure. Business/Jobs. The Winnipeg Capital Region.

Business/Jobs
Firstly, let business run business. But let’s provide a business friendly environment that will attract new business and keep existing business in Manitoba. Let’s create a strong and clear strategy that business and government can relate to and build from. And stick to it. Don’t waffle. This will lead to more attractive and better paying jobs. This will attract people to the province, while keeping our youngest and brightest minds here.

Crime
The crime rate in Manitoba, particularly Winnipeg, is frighteningly high. Let’s assume the federal government is impotent. What can the Provincial government do to make things better?

Health care
We must deplete the bloated bureaucracy. Put our resources in the front lines. Create a strategic scorecard that accurately measures performance and publish it monthly. Don’t play games with measurements and targets. Try a businesslike approach. Use cold hard facts and work them.

Education
See above. Again we have too much money going to administration and not enough to the teachers and the learning environment. Cut the plethora of school divisions. Remove the school boards ability to tax and place the funding onus on the Provincial governments’ back, where it belongs.

The Winnipeg Capital Region
Manitoba goes as Winnipeg goes. One might equate funding policy in Manitoba to Quebec. (Arbitrarily) Quebec gets far too much of the federal public purse than maybe it should. Meaning other, possibly more deserving, areas get less. In Manitoba, rural Manitoba equals Quebec. This is a tough balance but managed correctly, Winnipeg can feed the whole province through spin-off benefits.

Infrastructure
Our roads and bridges, hospitals and other public institutions and facilities … …are in an abysmal state. We must create a policy that forces us to proactively manage our infrastructure. Strike a five year plan to fix the infrastructure correctly. Dedicate the resources required to meet the plan.

PC Presence
We Manitobans simply cannot afford another 4 years of an NDP government. In my view the PC party and Hugh McFadyen have been very quiet, almost too quiet. It is time to raise your profile. While the NDP as a government and a party are taking their lumps, Doer seems to be elevating his profile. This must be countered. To win this election you’ll need a strong, high profile campaign. You need a strategy that starts building your platform and highlighting your people. You need a campaign that the electorate will embrace.

While one might be reluctant to show your cards too soon, there is some merit to identifying your priorities first and telling Manitobans.

Some bullets for consideration…

• Take a page out of Stephan Harpers’ election campaign. Keep your platform simple, with major commitments that will make significant impact immediately.
• Work with the media. You’ll need as much positive (and free) press and you can get.
• Don’t blur NDP and PC policies and platforms…
• Let’s not accept second best. Strive for the best and don’t settle.
• Fund priorities appropriately. Don’t dilute your efforts by trying to please everyone. It would be best to fund one program correctly than two programs ineffectively.
• Don’t play electioneering games. Leave personal attacks to the NDP and Liberals. Take the high road, and tell the electorate that you will target priorities and policies only.

At least the moving companies will prosper...

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

Not only did the NDP get re-elected, they kicked the bejesus outta the PCs. This means four more years of vanilla steady as she goes leadership, and teeny tiny incremental steps.

That breeze you are feeling is the rest of Canada speeding past Manitoba while the Manitoba government stands around twiddling their thumbs. Nero fiddles while Rome burns.

Thank God, Manitoba Hydro is safe.

What will be Gary Doer's legacy? A new hydro generating station? Perhaps a fatter, slower RHA administration? Maybe Crocus Part II? Presto, 30,000 more of Manitoba's best and brightest gone. Don't forget to write.

Doer will retire, before the next election is called. Who succeeds him?

Now is the time to plan for 2011. Hugh?

With the election only a day away...

Who's afraid of the status quo?

I don't believe that most Manitobans are satisfied with the status quo. Most Manitobans are, I believe: a) afraid of change (change is evil?) and 2) apathetic.

For fun, let's follow along the all-is-well-theme driven by the incumbent government provincial government.

Ask yourself: Who is truly satisfied with the RATE of improvement on the infrastructure in this province? Please keep in mind that the incumbent government has had 8 years to get it done and only pledged a $500+ million promise a scant few weeks prior to the election call.

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with the current state of our health system? Remember that the incumbent government has had double the federal transfers since 1999 (fyi that means billions of dollars, yes, plural). They have had 8 years to fix this as well. The bureaucracy is nicely bloated though.

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with real job creation in this province? The incumbent government has had 8 years to remove job and business killing taxes. Please do not confuse all the government jobs created (ie WRHA) nor the government sponsored construction jobs (ie Floodway). Our economy is fully half reliant upon the government.

What do you suppose will happen to all those jobs when the economy takes a breather?

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with the current justice system in Manitoba? Only after 8 years has the incumbent government has promised more police and crown attorney's.

Four key elements: infrastructure, health, business and job creation, and justice. Why, after 8 years do we continue to talk so much about these issues?

A Terrible Waste Of Life

3 innocent people have died in Manitoba since 2000 due to thieves driving stolen vehicles. The most recent happened yesterday morning when a car was t-boned in a Winnipeg intersection by a couple of punks in a stolen van. A 39 year old woman died senselessly.

Much has been said by every politician at every level about lawlessness in this city. Little has come of it.

Putting more police on the streets will help. Since our Federal and Provincial masters can't seem to get their collective act together, the extra police officers can keep arresting the low-life scum. And rearrest them after they are released, and rearrest them again and again.

Demand Manitoba Justice prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. No more deals. No more conditional sentences. No more double time credit for time served. No more free passes when parole is violated.

Put the fear of God into the criminals. Build more jails. Minimize parole. Make it abundantly clear: if you do the crime you will do the time.

The Federal government introduced a get tough law and order platform last year. It was gutted by the opposition parties including Winnipeg's Anita Neville. Tell her what you think.

The Provincial opposition party promised several strong measures to fight crime during the current provincial election. The best the NDP could do was sneer and protest "it was not their fault". Tell Gary Doer what you think. You can also send a message with your vote.

Bleeding hearts will bray that rehabilitating our criminals should be our priority. I say that social experiment is an abysmal failure. You see, it is politically expedient to point fingers at someone else. No one has the courage to do the right thing. Put these punks behind bars and throw away the keys.

My God. When will we wake up? When will we begin thinking with reason and logic and leave politic-speak behind. Every Canadian politician is to blame for this senseless death.

No All Party Debate?

I was beginning to get a little bored with the 2007 Provincial election. I'm at the point where no one party has distinguished themselves. They all promise the moon and generally look alike. I had assumed one party would begin to stand out as e-day neared. Not so, so far.

I was looking forward to the all-party debates. Until one party pulled the rug out from under the voter's collective feet. It seems Gary Doer and the NDP are afraid of something. It's probably a good strategic move on their part. It is also cowardly and more than a little arrogant.

Doer has dodged the difficult questions for the entire election. I wanted to see how Doer responded to intelligent debate. Where he did not have the luxury of declining to comment or responding with a flippant remark.

Doer took that away from me, us.

Why this troubles me mostly is the apathy of my fellow Manitobans. With blinkers on, they seem satisfied with the status quo. A have-not province, with an economy too dependent upon big brother. With half our economy driven by government and government related make work projects.

We must move away from a socialist model if we want Winnipeg and Manitoba to really grow and prosper. When we are denied an opportunity to see the real issues debated, where we can challenge the status quo, we abandon the opportunity to see the tigers' real stripes.

Bring on the debates.

The Blurring of Manitoba Politics

We've heard so many promises from all three major Manitoba political parties. Each promises one variation of the same issues. Most disconcerting is, on the surface, one can hardly tell where the PC platform ends and the NDP platform begins.

Our beloved politicos have finally succeeded at blurring their policies into one analogous lump.

This is why a clear and concise vision would be useful. Indeed it should be demanded. It would show voters the underlying philosophies and policies of each party, not just the hot spots du jour.

Not one party has clearly defined their vision. I would like to see a clearly articulated PLAN that would help the average tax-payer understand where the plan starts and ends.

I'd like to see a PLAN that plainly states how the myriad promises will actually be accomplished.

Enough rhetoric. Show me the plan...

Dare to Dream

Now that we are right in the thick the Manitoba provincial election the promises are coming hard and fast. The latest election promise has governments bringing NHL hockey back to a hockey-mad city. Both the NDP and the PCs have said they support returning NHL to Winnipeg.

Most voters know that an NHL team in Winnipeg is a long shot at best. Yet they dream of the day. I support those big dreamers. And why not? Yes there certainly are other, more worthy uses of our hard earned tax dollars. And God knows our elected representatives fritter away tax dollars like it's Canadian Tire money.

There are so many that yearn for Winnipeg and Manitoba to be more than it is. Some actually put their money where their mouths are. I applaud and support them. Manitobans will not vote for a party solely on the basis of this pipe dream. But why keep yanking the rug out from under the dreamers?

I say let them dream. And let others think big. THAT is how great things happen. That is how dreams such as the Human Rights Museum happen. Or a new arena or football stadium or rapid transit.

No, Manitobans are not stupid. But we have been held back by naysayers for far too long.

It is time we started thinking that the glass is half FULL. Dare to dream indeed...